New Book Details Long-Forgotten and Controversial Civil War Battle in Louisiana Former Slaves’ Fight at Milliken’s Bend Led to Congressional Investigation Baton Rouge—At Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana, a Union force composed predominantly of former slaves met their Confederate adversaries in one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. This small yet important fight received some initial widespread attention but soon drifted into obscurity. In Milliken’s Bend, Linda Barnickel uncovers the story of this long-forgotten and highly controversial battle. Controversial charges made after the battle eventually led to a congressional investigation and contributed to the suspension of prisoner exchanges between North and South. Barnickel’s compelling and comprehensive account of the battle illuminates not only the immense complexity of the events that transpired in northeastern Louisiana during the Vicksburg Campaign but also the implications of Milliken’s Bend upon the war as a whole. The battle contributed to southerners’ increasing fears of slave insurrection and heightened their anxieties about emancipation. In the North, it helped foster a commitment to allow free blacks and former slaves to take part in the war to end slavery. And for African Americans, both free and enslaved, Milliken’s Bend symbolized their never-ending struggle for freedom. Linda Barnickel is an archivist and freelance writer with master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and The Ohio State University. Passionate about discovering the hidden and fascinating stories of history, she is interested in local history, military history, oral history, and the cultural power of archives.

Internet Radio: Authors of the Round Table: Wednesday February 18, 7:30pm (EST). Call TOLL-FREE (323) 792 2931. Join Nick and Eva to listen or discuss whether or not the civil war is justified and why?

You take charge of the conversation by bringing your concerns and issues to the table. Policy, issues, complaints, President Obama, the Senate, the House of Representatives, State issues, solution to issues, your favorite trip, what do you want Santa Claus to bring you...

Actually, on Anything Goes Friday...anything goes!

As I have said a thousand gillion times (that's a lot), everyone has an opinion on everything. One way to get that people to listen your cause/pinion is to jump "In the Pickle Barrel".

Just in case you can't think about a topic...I have!

There is an apparent "Civil War" raging in the GOP ranks. Tea Party leader Joe Dugan will be jumping "In the Pickle Barrel" around the 8:30AM mark to discuss this issue.

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Civil Chat with Lee looks at the IRAN NEGOTIATIONS, Hilary Clinton's erasing of inbox, TED CRUZ. the BIGOT state of Indiana and supreme BIGOT MIKE PENCE, Harry Reid is retirning, and whatever YOU want to talk about.

The host looks at the fallout from Sen. Cotton's letter to IRAN. What damage if any has this letter done to negotiations between Iran and the United States. Republican and Democrat leaders speak out. John Kerry weighs in as well. Ferguson fallout from DOJ report. Civil Chat with Lee also looks at what else is trending.

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Civil Chat with Lee looks at What's Trending with Iran, Boehner's love fest visit to Israel, the American Horror Freak Show Congress, the hypocrisy of our theocracy, and whatever you want to talk about.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the official repository of the permanently valuable records of the U.S. Government. NARA's vast holdings document the lives and experiences of persons who interacted with the Federal Government. The records created by post-Civil War Federal Agencies are perhaps some of the most important records available for the study of black family life and genealogy. This discussion will focus on NARA's Reference Information Paper 108.

This reference information paper describes three post-Civil War Federal agencies' records: the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands; the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company; and the Commissioners of Claims. Case examples will be shared to illustrate the value of researching these important records.

Reginald Washington is a retired archivist/ genealogy specialist with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). He lectures frequently on records and research procedures at the National Archives, and has served as the African-American Genealogy Subject Area Specialist at NARA. He has spoken at conferences of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, National Institute on Genealogical Research, and numerous local genealogical societies and clubs.

Civil Chat with Lee looks at What's Trending as well as a full segment on "Getting to Know You" Iowa Free Summit GOP presidential candidates. Today's featured politician is Ben Carson. Tune in and get informed.